Burke 22nd in Hochfilzen sprint

December 7, 2012

HOCHFILZEN, Austria - The second day of IBU World Cup racing took place Friday in Hochfilzen, Austria with the men's 10-kilometer sprint.

Tim Burke of Paul Smiths took the top finish for United States biathletes, a 22nd place, in a time of 26 minute and 21.7 seconds, which included one penalty in the standing phase at the range. Burke was 50.6 seconds back from Germany's Andreas Birnbacher, who won with a time of 25:31.1 and clean competition shooting. Current World Cup leader Martin Fourcade of France finished just 0.4 seconds behind Birnbacher in second place, posting a 25:31.5 result with one miss at the range. Jacov Fak of Slovakia founded out the podium in third with a time of 25:44.8 and one missed target.

"I was happy with my shooting today but I just did not have the legs for a top result," Burke said. "Our team did a great job with the skis, but I was just really tired today for some reason. Luckily, I am not too far back for tomorrow's pursuit, so I am hopeful that I will feel better by then."

Lake Placid's Lowell Bailey placed 36th in 26:40.5 while missing one shot, and Russell Currier of Stockholm, Maine finished 56th in 27:38.7with two misses. Jay Hakkinen of Kasilof, Alaska, finished 67th, and and Leif Nordgren of Marine, Minn. was 81st.

"That was a tough race today," Bailey said. "After feeling good in Sunday's Pursuit in Ostersund, I expected to continue feeling good on the ski course. I was way off the mark today. All I can say is that some days are better than others, and hopefully I bounce back tomorrow."

Burke, Bailey and Currier compete again today in the pursuit starting at 6:45 a.m. (EST).

In the women's World Cup race, Susan Dunklee of Barton, Vt. had the top finish for the Americans in Friday's 7.5k sprint . Posting a time of 24:06.2 with two misses, Dunklee was 1:41.5 back from Darya Domracheva Belarus, who won her first race of the season with a time of 22:24.7/1+0. Finland's Kaisa Marakainen placed second at in 22:24.7 with one miss, and World Cup leader Tora Berger of Norway was third, finishing in 22:37.6 and also missing a target.

Sara Studebaker of Boise, Idaho finished 58th in 24:40.5 with two misses, Annelies Cook of Saranac?Lake placed 63rd in 24:55.7 with four misses, and Lanny Barnes of Durango, Colo. finished 71st in 25:13.7 with one miss.